Using Peer Mentoring to Help Students Learn in a Large Class

Project Title

Using Peer Mentoring to Help Students Learn in a Large Class

Project Leader

Prof Surendra K Mansinghka

School / Dept

SBM / FINA

Project Duration

Oct 2002 - Jun 2003

Project Description

This project provided students with all available resources and methods to foster their sense of responsibility for their learning. Students attending a large class are sometimes nervous and do not ask questions. If possible, they would like to receive convenient peer assistance, especially from the final year finance students, in assignments, lectures, etc. Leaving students working on their own without assistance or meetings is not very helpful, whereas peer learning is known to be very effective. Consequently, the project team encouraged students to form study groups which were assigned a peer-mentor. Final year FINA students were recruited as mentors to guide the FINA111 freshmen in their study of this course. It also benefited the mentors by improving their interpersonal skills, leading to professional growth. This project was a trial of peer mentoring that ran between the mid term and final examination in 2003.

Project Outcome

The major arrangement and deliverables included: i)  recruited 25 second and third year student mentors;  ii) introduced mentors to students in class/ at tutorials. Mentors provided details for contacting them; iii)  posted the mentors’ contact information onto WebCT; iv) Voluntary individual / group arrangement of consultation sessions among mentors and students; v) Mentors helped students in answering their questions, clarifying any confusion about the subject, and providing them with collegial support; vi) Informal communication among mentors, TAs and instructor about students’ reaction and consultation; and vii) Conducted an online survey with the mentors after the whole consultation period ended in May 2003.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Final Report

Adaptation

Full Project